THE WAIHI TROUBLE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 36, 5 October 1912, Page 5

THE WAIHI TROUBLE.

INCIDENTS OF THE DAY

(Per Press Association.) Waihi, October 4. Strike matters here to-day are much milder in character. ’The Waihi Company have intimated that workers will bo conveyed to and from their work by tho company. 1 ' Late last night a gang of strikers wont to a prominent mining contractor’s residence. One man went to the house and knocked at tho door, while the others stood back. The contractor, who answered the door in person, noticed that tho mail wore a ribbon of red, white and blue, worn evidently to disarm any suspicion. The man said "Constable Skinner is outside and wants to speak to you.” ; The con tractor replied: “If the constable wants to see me, let' him come in.” The man then asked if ho could take any message ito tho constable. The reply was, . "Toll llim .Ihn all right. Good night!” and then he closed the door. The’ intention "of"the''plotters can he imagined. A pathetic' appeal was" made by a little girl of very tender years to her mother vestteday aftemirfonL The latter wasdwhfAlin'g a poranilmlator in the wake of a crowd following- some workers, and was hurrying to get closer to the front, and seeing her tiny offspring lagging, behind, urged the chi Id* to hasten. "Hurry up! Hurry up!” she cried to tho child, as she pushed tho pram along. Tho child, in plaintiff,, -vveqry (Lonys, replied; “°K ] T f? r „ a "‘ V more f scabS l *-l , ra so very tired.” Instructions Jiave been issued by the Strike Coininitteo to Suppress the display of rod flags and_ red ribbons, it is surmised.'Jhat the; instruction is tho result of the display of'red, white and blue which has been, so prevalent in town lately, and which, in the opinion of the committee, suggests that :< flag of war instead of one of an in - dustrial dispute is being waved. STRIKE SYMPATHISERS. Christchurch, October 4. Mr. E. J. Howard, a member of the Executive of the Federation of Labour, in an interview, stated that some difficulty had been experienced in keeping some of tho affiliated unions from striking in. sympathy with Waihi. The men on the executive, however, knew a few things that made it not worth while to call a general strike at present. Industrial concerns had stocks of coal, and only householders would suffer if a general strike was called just now.- If a general strike were called it woul he in the wool and grain season in the Dominion. It was alleged, he said, that only four of the Waihi strikers had returned to -work, the others being from Waikino; also, that the Federation was in a position to keep the strike going till Christmas. Men and women in all parts of tho Dominion were offering to take the places of the men in gaol. WAIHI WITTICISMS. During Tuesday night some people, presumably arbitration!sts, screwed a wooden tablet, coloured to represent the Union Jack, on front of the Miners’ Union Hall. At the flagpole of the hall next day there is being flown a miner’s hilly, with a pair of dungaree pants and slouch hat. This is referred to by strikers as an "emblem of arbitration.” ’ At Tuesday’s meeting of the strikers letters from two of tho strikers in gaol—Collins and Parry—were read. Tho former asked that his strike pay ho forwarded so that he could get a shave when ho came out. Parry wrote that lie was in Ins coll for twenty hours out of the twentyfour. Ho wont to church on Sunday, and heard Bishop Crossley speak on the necessity of abiding by laws—even Nature’s laws. Ho said he was inclined to write pamphlets, only the author!lies would not let him. He remarked also that there was no danger of his getting "eating diabetes.”